Picture reading apparatus

1. An apparatus for digitizing pictures, the apparatus comprising: a light source; a film holding plate having a plurality of openings that include a picture opening and a perforation opening, the perforation opening corresponding with perforation holes formed in a strip of film; a carriage connected to the film holding plate, the carriage being movable with respect to the light source so that, when the carriage is in a first position, light from the light source passes through the perforation opening and a portion of the picture opening; and an imager connected to the carriage, the imager having an input surface, and digitizing an image formed on the input surface from light passing through the perforation opening and the portion of the picture opening when the carriage is in the first position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: a film feeder connected to the film holding plate and the carriage that steps a strip of film through the film holding plate, the imager imaging each step of the strip of film to form a digital image of the strip of film; and a controller that determines position information of the strip of film by evaluating the digital image that was captured by the perforation opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the digital image includes pictures, regions between pictures, and perforation holes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the carriage is in a second position, light from the light source passes through a first end of the picture opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein when the carriage is in a third position, light from the light source passes through a second end of the picture opening, the second end being opposite to the first end.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the carriage includes a roller that moves the strip of film moves across the picture opening of the film holding plate in a direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the carriage moves in the direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carriage includes a roller that moves the strip of film across the picture opening of the film holding plate in a first direction and a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the carriage moves in the first direction and the second direction.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the roller moves the strip of film moves across the picture opening in the first direction at the same time that the carriage moves in the second direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the carriage moves in the direction at the same time that the strip of film does not move across the picture opening.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the carriage includes: first gears connected to the roller; and a first motor for driving the first gears.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising: second gears connected to the carriage; and a second motor for driving the second gears.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the carriage includes: first gears connected to the roller; and a first motor for driving the first gears.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising: second gears connected to the carriage; and a second motor for driving the second gears.